South Africa was invited by the United Nations to host the Third World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (the Durban Conference), held in 2001. The invitation was extended in recognition of the struggle waged by the people of South Africa against the system of apartheid and the country’s transition to democracy, founded on constitutional values. The Durban Conference was attended by representatives of 160 countries. The conference adopted the historic Durban Declaration and Programme of Action which urges “states to establish and implement without delay national policies and action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations.”

South Africa is mandated in terms of the Durban Declaration to produce a National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The purpose of the National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the Republic of South Africa is to provide South Africa with a comprehensive policy framework to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at both a private and public level. The NAP is not intended to replace existing laws and policies but rather to be complementary to existing legislation, policies and programmes which address equality, equity and discrimination.

The NAP envisions uniting South Africans in building a non-racial, tolerant society that recognises its plurality and diversity based on the values of equality and human dignity through the promotion of anti-racism education, the promotion of constitutional values and the advancement of human rights, through dialogue and action.

The NAP will provide for monitoring on-going incidents of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance through establishing a rapid response team, reporting directly to government serving as a barometer measuring the extent of the incidents, the circumstances which allow for their continuation and the provision of tools to address them.

Furthermore, the NAP is intended to assist South Africa to meet its international treaty and regional obligations i.e. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), as well as its commitments arising from the Third UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

The overall goal of the NAP is to build a non-racial, non-sexist society based on the values of human dignity, equality and the advancement of human rights and freedom. The NAP is also intended to combat xenophobia and related intolerance and to address the following:

Promote human dignity through the promotion and protection of human rights;

Raise awareness of anti-racism, equality and anti-discrimination issues among public officials, civil society and the general public, mobilizing support from a wide range of people;

Encourage the collection of data regarding racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and allow for a more comprehensive assessment of their needs to effectively combat it;

Ensure that the concerns of individuals and groups encountering racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are more effectively addressed;

Increase the effectiveness and coherence of measures against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance including financial and human resources;